Bottle carrier



G. A. OLSON BOTTLE CARRIER Aug. 12, 1952 Filed Dec. 20. 1948 Fix?Patented Aug. 12, 1952 BOTTLE CARRIER Gale A. Olson, Rockford, Ill.,assignor of one-half to Joseph M. Grzelak, Rockford, Ill.

., Application December 20, 1948, Serial No. 66,238

This invention relates to bottle carriers of the kind commonly used forcarrying soft drink hottles. f v

I am aware that numerous designs and con- *structions' have beenproposed for bottle carriers of the kind mentioned, However, it istheprincipal object of my invention to provide a bottle carrier ofsimplerand more economical construction so designed as to take maximumadvantage of what little sheet metal is employed, with a view toobtaining maximum rigidity and safer carriage of the bottles, and at thesame time enable easier and safer stacking of filled carriersin. floordisplays, and also the nesting of the carriers .for compact shipment inquantities from the place of manufacture.

The carrier of my invention'is'made up of only three parts, namely, aone-piece sheet metal container body, a one-piece wire frame, and aone-piece wire handle, and these three parts are combined in a novelmanner to afford many advantages not obtained heretofore with much morecomplicated and more expensive constructions. For example, the one-piecesheet metal container body is formed between dies to provide arectangular bottom with upwardly projecting flanges on the ends, each inthe form of a U, to provide reinforcement not only in a directioncross-wise of the bottom but also in a direction lengthwise thereof, theends of the flanges merging with the lower end portions of upwardlyprojecti'ng sidewalls that are integral with the bottom, these lower endportions extending inwardly out of the planes'of'th'e sidewalls farenough to serve as reinforcing struts for the greater rigidity of theside walls. The embossing of circular ribs in the bottom to providerecesses adapted to receive the lower ends of the bottles alsoadds tothe rigidity of the bottom, and byembossing the central portions ofthese'depressions to fit in the recessed lower ends ofithe bottles, Iprovide recesses on the under side of the bottom to receive the cappedupper ends of other bottles for safer stacking of filled carriers infloor displays.

The wire frame, which is fastened to the container by curling the upperends of the side walls around the side portions of the frame, so thatthe end portions of the wire can be held together by spot welding of thecurled sheet metal thereto, has upwardly projecting inverted U-shapedloops at the middle of .the end cross-portions of said frame, on whichare slidable,up and down, the looped ends of the inverted U-shaped' wirehandle bail, this sliding connection enabling lowering of the handle toa plane below the tops of 9 Claims. (Cl. 224-48) 2 I the bottles asrequired in the stacking of filled carriers in displays. The endportions of the Wire handle bail, in which the loops are formed,

are flattened in a verticalplane, so as to provide wide bearings to workon the'looped portions of the wire frame and support the handle in avertical plane out of contact with the necks of the bottles in thecarrier, so that it can be grasped easily-when the carrier is to be'picked up. The looped lower ends of the wire handle bail are also bentin opposite directions out of the longitudinal plane of the handle justenough to enable sliding one of the handle loops on one side of theupwardly propecting loop on the one end of the wire frame and slidingthe other handle loop on the other side of the upwardly projecting loopon the other end of the wire frame, while locat- .ng the handle as awhole in the plane of the longitudinal center-line of the carrier.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig.1 is an end view, slightly under full size, of my improved bottlecarrier, showing the handlebail in full lines in the raised carryingposition and in dotted lines in the lowered out of the way position, andindicating also in dotted lines how the embossed bottom of the containerfacilitates stacking of filled carriers;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the carrier, on a reduced scale;

Figs. 3 and 4 are horizontal sections on the correspondingly numberedlines of Fig. 2, but showing the parts full size, and

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1 looking at oneend portion of the container.

The same reference numerals are applied to corresponding parts in thesefive views.

Referring to the drawing, the reference numeral 6 designates theone-piece sheet metal container or carrier body, 1 the one-piece wireframe, and 8 the one-piece wire handle ball. The container 6, due to itsnovel construction, can be made of lighter gauge sheet metal than wouldotherwise be feasible, with a resultant appreciable saving in cost ofproduction,'low cost being essential for an item of this kind,due to theclose competition existing between manufac: turers of bottle carriersand the fact that such small deposits are askedof customers upon thepurchase of a carrier-full of soft drinks. The container 6 is formedbetween dies to provide a generally rectangular bottom 9 and side wallsIt] and H. The bottom 9, in accordance with my invention, is appreciablylonger than the side walls, providing projecting end portions 12 and [3,the edge portions of which are flanged upwardly, as indicated at 14 andI5, for reinforcement and also improved appearance and to avoid exposingraw edges. This design results in an appreciable saving in sheet metal,there being very little scrap in the punching of the blanks from asheet. The flanges l4 and I5, as clearly appears in Fig. 5,'are U-shapedas viewed from above so that they give reinforcement not only crosswiseof the bottom but also in a longitudinal direction. The side walls 10and II are lengthened at their lower end portions to provide webs l6 andH smoothly joining the ends of the flanges l4 and [5 with the sidewalls, these web portions being curved in a vertical plane, asappears inFig. 5, so as to form reinforcing struts to lend rigidity to the sidewalls, while at the same time, due to the curvature of their edges, as

viewed from the side in Fig. 2, improving the apbossed a circularprojection 2|, which is accommodated in the hollow center 22 of thebottom of the bottle resting. in the depression IS. The dishedunderj-sideof the embossed projection 2i providesa locating depressionfor the capped upper end 23 of the bottle in the next carrier below in astack of filled carriers in a floor display. In that way my carrierprovides for much greater safety in the stacking of filled carriers fordisplays.

The wire frame 1 is of generally rectangular form, like the bottom 9 ofthe container 5, so as to more or less loosely confine "the six bottlesstanding on the bottom 9. The parallel side portions 24 of the wireframe have the upper ends of the side walls In and II of the containercurled around the same, as at 25, and'spot welded thereto, asindicated'at 26, thereby preventing endwise displacement of the'framerelative to the container and also holding the free ends 2'! of theone-piece frame together, as shown in Fig. 2. The parallelcross-portions 28 forming the ends of the wire frame 1 have upwardlyprojecting' inverted U-shaped loops 29 and 33 formed at theirmid-portions, on which the horizontal looped ends 3| and 32'of theinverted U- shaped wire handle bail B are attached and free to slide upand down to the extent indicated by the dotted line lowered retractedposition of the handle bail shown in Fig. l. Lowering of the handle boilto the out of the way position enables stacking of filled carriers andyet the handle grips 33 are still high enough to be grasped easily. Thewire of ,saidhandle ball 8 is flattened at the looped ends 3 |-32' in avertical plane, as appears in Figs. 1 to 4, to increase the width ofbearing surface engagement of the loops 3l32 on the loops 29-30 and,accordingly, hold the handle 8 in an upright position, or nearly so, sothat the handle grip 33 will always be easily accessible and can begrasped readily when the carrier is to be picked up and carried. Thehandle bail, as appears in Fig. 1, is disposed generally in the verticalplane of the longitudinal center-line of the carrier, this planebeingidenti fied in Figs. 3 4, and 5 by thecenter-line A B 4 Thiscentral plane of the handle is important for a feeling of nice balancewhen carrying the filled carrier and this result is obtained despite thefact that the loop 3| is attached to one side of the loop 29 and loop 32is attached to the other side of loop 30, the loops 3| and 32 being bentin opposite directions from the plane of handle 3 to the small extentmost clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4 to makethis desirable disposition ofthe handle relative to the carrier possible.

The containers 6 have their side walls l0 and H disposed in upwardlydiverging relation, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, to permit nesting ofcontainers in a compact stack for shipment in large quantities from theplace of manufacture, the handle bails 8 being shipped separate andassembled on the carriers by the purchaser upon arrival. It is obviouslya simple matter for anyone to close the loops 3| and 32 with a pair ofpliers to complete the connection of the handle ball 8 with the loops 29and 30 on the wire frame 1. The wire frame I is large enough to permitpassing the container 6 of another carrier through it easily in thenesting of containers for shipment. lines in Fig. 2, are also disposedin upwardly diverging relation enough to permit the nesting ofcontainers 6 withv their frames 7 assembled thereon." The upwarddivergence of loops 29-30 is, incidentally, of advantage in thecompletely assembled carrier from the standpoint that the loops 3 I 32of the handle bail fit more and more tightly on loops 29-30 the fartherthe handle is raised and loops 2940 are flexed inwardly from theirnormal relaxed positions, indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2, so thatthe handle when raised all the way will remain so until pushed down byhand, or'by lowering another carrier thereon, as when stacking filledcarriers in a floor display. I

It is believed the foregoing description conveys a good understanding ofthe objects and advantages of my invention. The appended claims'havebeen drawn to cover all legitimate modifications and adaptations.

Iclaim:

l. A bottle carrier comprising a one-piece sheet metal containerproviding a bottle supporting bottom portion of rectangular form andhaving opposed upwardly bent side portions, the ends of thecontainerbeing open, a one-piece rectangular wire frame for the top ofsaid container, the opposed side portions of said frame bein fastened tothe upperends of saidlcontainer side portions, the end portions of Tsaid wire .frame extendin transversely of the open ends of theycontainer and being formed to provide upwardly extending, elongated,inverted U-shaped loops at the middle thereof, and a one-piece. invertedU-shaped handle bail disposed approximately in the vertical planeincluding the longitudinal center-line of the container. and havinghorizontal loops bent from the ends of the arms of the U slidablyattached to arms of the U of said frame loops, so as to'permit limitedmovement of said handle up and down relativeto said container to andfrom an elevated carrying position.

2. A bottle carrier comprising a one-piece sheet metal containerproviding a bottle supporting bottom portion of rectangular form andhaving opposed upwardly bent side portions, the ends of the containerbeing open, a one-piece rectangular wireframe for the top of saidcontainer, the opposed side portions of said frame being fastened to theupper ends of said container side The loops 29 and 30., as shown indotted portions, the end portions of said wire'frame extendingtransversely of the open ends of the container and being formed. toprovide upwardly extending, elongated, inverted U-shaped loops'at themiddle thereof, and a one-piece, inverted U-shaped handle bail disposedapproximately in thevertical, plane including the longitudinalcenter-line of the container, and having horizontal loops bent outwardlyfrom the ends of the arms of the U slidably attached to arms of the U ofsaid frame loops, so as to permit limited movement of said handle-up anddown relative to said container to and from an elevated carryingposition, the'side portions ofsaid container extending in an upwardlydiverging relation to permit nesting of one container in another withouthandles attached, and said wire frame being largeenough in relation tothe container also to permit such nesting, the loops on the end portionsof said frame also extending in an upwardly diverging relation to permitnesting of one frame in another in the'nesting of the containers and sothat the loops on said handle bail have tighter connections with theloops on said frame in the raised carrying position of said handle bail.

3. A bottle carrier comprising a one-piece sheet metal containerproviding a bottle supporting bottom portion of rectangular form andhaving opposed upwardly bent side portions, the ends of the containerbeing open, a one-piece rectangular wire frame for the top of saidcontainer, the opposed side portions of said frame being fastened to theupper ends of said container side portions, the end portions of saidwire frame extending transversely of the open ends of the container andbeing formed to provide upwardly extending, elongated, inverted U-shapedloops at the middle thereof, and a one-piece inverted U-shaped handlebail disposed approximately in the vertical plane including thelongitudinal center-line of the container, and having horizontal loopsbent outwardly from the ends of the arms of the U slidably attached toarms of the U of said frame loops so as to permit limited movement ofsaid handle up and down relative to said container to and from anelevated carrying position, the loops on the end portions of said frameextending in an upwardly diverging relation so that the loops on saidhandle bail are wedged tightly on the loops on said frame in the raisedcarrying position of said handle bail.

4. A bottle carrier comprising a one-piece sheet metal containerproviding a bottle supporting bottom portion of rectangular form andhaving opposed upwardly bent side portions, the ends of the containerbeing open, a one-piece rectangular wire frame for the top of saidcontainer, the opposed side portions of said frame being fastened to theupper ends of said container side portions, the end portions of saidwire frame extending transversely of the open ends of the container andbeing formed to provide upwardly extending, elongated, inverted U-shapedloops at the middle thereof, and a one-piece inverted U-shaped handlebail disposed approximately in the vertical plane including thelongitudinal center-line of the container, and having horizontal loopsbent outwardly from the ends of the arms of the U slidably attached toarms of the U of said frame loops so as to permit limited movement ofsaid handle up and down relative to said container to and from anelevated carrying position, the loops on the end portions of said frameextending in an upwardly diverging relation so that the loops on saidhandle bail are wedged tightly on the loops on said frame in the raisedcarrying position of .said handle baiL-the wireof the'loops on thehandle bail beingflattened in a vertical plane for wider bearingengagement on the wire of the loops onsa-id frame so as to holdsaidhandle bail in an upright osition.

' 5. A bottle carrier comprising a one-piece sheet metal containerproviding a bottle supporting bottom portion of rectangular form andhaving opposed upwardly bent side portions, the ends of the containerbeing open, a one-piece rectangular wireframe for'the top of saidcontainer, the opposed side portions of said frame being fastened to theupper ends ofsaid container side portions, the end portionsof; said wireframe extending transversely of the open ends of the container and beingformed to provide upwardly extending, elongated, inverted U-shaped loopsat the middle thereof, and a one-piece inverted U-shaped handle baildisposed approximately in the vertical plane including the longitudinalcenter-line of the container, and having horizontal loops bent from theends of the arms of the U slidably attached to arms of the U of saidframe loops so as to permit limited movement of said handle up and downrelative to said container to and from an elevated carrying position,the wire of the loops on the handle bail being flattened in a verticalplane for widerbearing engagement on the wire of the loops on'saidframeso as to hold said handle bail in, an upright position.

6, A bottle carrier comprising a one-piece sheet metal containerproviding a bottle supporting bottom portion of rectangular form andhaving opposed upwardly bent side portions, the ends of the'containerbeing open. a one-piece rectangular wire frame for the top of saidcontainer, the opposed side portions of said frame beingfastened to theupper ends of said container side portions, the end portions of saidwire frame extending transversely of the open ends of the container andbeing formed to provide upwardly extending, elongated, inverted U-shapedloops at the middle thereof, and a one-piece inverted U-shaped handlebail disposed approximately in the vertical plane including thelongitudinal center-line of the container, and having horizontal loopsbent outwardly from the ends of the arms of the U slidably attached toarms of the U of said frame loops so as to permit limited movement ofsaid handle up and down relative to said container to and from anelevated carrying position, the loop on one end of said handle bailembracing the wire of one side of the loop on the corresponding end ofsaid frame, and the loop on the other end .of said handle embracing thewire of the other side of the loop on that end of said frame forbalanced support of the container.

7. A bottle carrier comprising a one-piece sheet metal containerproviding a bottle supporting bottom portion of rectangular form andhaving opposed upwardly bent side portions, the ends of the containerbeing open, a one-piece rectangular wire frame for the top of saidcontainer, the opposed side portions of said frame being fastened to theupper ends of said container side portions, the end portions of saidwire frame extending transversely of the open ends of the container andbeing formed to provide upwardly extending, elongated, inverted U-shapedloops at the middle thereof, and a one-piece inverted U-shaped handlebail disposed approximately in the vertical plane including thelongitudinal center-line of the container and having horizontal loopsbent outwardly from the ends of the arms of the U slidably attacliedto.arms'of the U of said frame loops so as" to permit limited movement ofsaid handle up and 'downrelative to said container to and from anelevatedcarrying position, theloop on one end of said handle bailembracing the wire of one side of the loop on the corresponding end ofsaid frame, and the loop on the other end ofsaid handle embracing thewire of the other side of the loop on that end of said frame forbalanced support of the container, the loops on the ends of said handlebail being bent laterally in acute angle relationshipto the verticalplane of the handle bail in opposite directions, so as to locate themajor .portion of said handle bail with its vertical plane coincidingapproximately with the longitudinal center-line 'of the container formore evenlybalanced carrying of thefilled container.

8. A bottle carrier comprising a one-piece sheet metal containerproviding a bottle supporting bottom portion of rectangular form andhaving opposed u'p'wardly bent side portions, the ends of the containerbeing open, the bottom portion being appreciably longer than the sideportions so as to provide projecting end portions on the bottom, saidprojecting end portions having upwardly bent edge portions defininggenerally U-shaped reinforcing flanges for reinforcement of the bottomportion crosswise of its projecting end porticns and also in alongitudinal direction, the side portions of said containerhaving webportions integral therewith at both ends smoothly connecting the lowerend portions thereof with the end portions of said U-shaped flanges toresist deflection otsaid end portions under load, said web portionsextendinginwardly out of the planes of said container side 'portio'ns soas to resist deflection of said side portions relative to said bottomportion, a rectangular wire frame for the top of said container, theopposed side portions of said frame'being fastened to the upper ends ofsaid-"container-sideportions and the end portionsof said wire frameprojecting from the con- 'tainer side portions substantially as faras-the projecting end portions of the bottom, and a carrying handleconnected to the end portions of said frame.

9 A bottle carrier comprising a one-piece sheet metal containerproviding a bottle supporting bottom portion of rectangular form andhaving opposed upwardly bent side portions, the ends of the containerbeing open, the bottom portion being appreciably longer than the sideportions so as to provide projecting end portions on the bottom, theside portions of said container having web portions integral therewithat both ends smoothly connecting the lower end portions thereof with theedge portions of said projecting end portions so as to resist deflectionof said end portions under load, said web portions extending inwardlyout of the planes of said container side portions so as to resistdeflection of said side portions relative to said bottom portion, arectangular wire frame for the top of said container, the opposed sideportions of said frame being fastened to the upper ends of saidcontainer side portions and the end portions of said wire frameprojecting from the container side portions substantially as far as theprojecting end portions of the bottom, and a carrying handle connectedto the end portions of said frame.

GALE A. OLSON.

' REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date I). 114,034 Washburn Mar. 28,1939 2,329,656 Sedgwick Sept. 14, 1943 2,395,601 Wenthe Feb. 26, 19462,396,003 Goldman Mar. 5, 1946 2,404,133 Ice July 16, 1946 2,436,501Baiei Feb. 24, 1948

